HSK · Level 3
131 words
Chinese word
姐
Pronunciation
Pinyinjiě
Meaning
- nounolder sister
Example
我姐比我大三岁。wǒ jiě bǐ wǒ dà sān suì
My older sister is three years older than me.
More examples
我给姐打电话。wǒ gěi jiě dǎ diàn huà
I call my older sister.
Core concept
A female older-sibling figure, whether she is a real sister or an older woman treated with friendly respect.
Common phrases
姐姐jié jiě
older sister
给姐打电话gěi jiě dǎ diàn huà
call older sister
姐帮我jiě bāng wǒ
older sister helps me
Similar words
姐姐jié jiě: A term for one's older biological sister.
妹妹mèi mèi: A term for one's younger biological sister.
女士nǚ shì: A polite form of address for an adult woman.
Definition in Chinese
作为对年长女性的称呼，既可以指血缘关系的姐姐，也常在口语中用作对年长女性的亲切或敬称。zuò wéi duì nián zhǎng nǚ xìng de chēng hū jì ké yǐ zhǐ xuè yuán guān xì de jié jiě yě cháng zài kóu yǔ zhōng yòng zuò duì nián zhǎng nǚ xìng de qīn qiè huò jìng chēng
Word origin
姐 (jiě, "older sister") combines 女 (nǚ, "woman") with the sound-bearing element 且 (qiě, "and"), linking its written form to a female older-sibling term.
Usage tips
- In a shop or workplace, this form of address can create a friendly tone, but a more formal title is safer when the relationship and the woman's preferred form of address are unknown.